LONDON — For students of political theater, watching British politicians grapple with the chaos of Brexit calls to mind one of the most powerful political dramas of modern American history.

In his role as outgoing vice president, it fell to Al Gore — the losing candidate — to preside over the joint session of Congress in 2000, in which the presidency was officially bestowed on George W. Bush following the highly questionable election result.

Under the rules of the session, congressmen and women who objected to the confirmation would be heard — delaying if not halting Bush’s anointment — so long as they received the written backing of a single senator. None came.

One by one, a series of representatives, mostly black, stepped forward to state the many reasons why the election had been compromised in the state of Florida (remember those hanging chads?), before admitting with dismay that no senator had signed their name in support. The spectacle was made even more incongruous by the sight of Gore banging his gavel to silence them.

Today, in the U.K., the senators are missing once again. MPs opposed to Brexit have become so obsessed by appearing to respect the outcome of a public vote that they ignore both the illogicality of the result and the clear path toward reversing it.

Even those most opposed to Britain’s departure from the European Union have taken a vow of silence when it comes to battling to Remain, confining themselves to tinkering at the edges.

The 48 percent who supported staying in the bloc in June 2016 (now swelled to 51 percent according to current polls) benefit not a jot from such minor triumphs as the rebellion in mid-December that forced the U.K. government to give parliament a vote on the final EU deal. They want to stay — not leave following a futile debate in the House of Commons.

So why is it that no senior British politician is making a full-throated case that a single moment in history — one in which those in favor of leaving the EU tipped briefly into a narrow majority — should not be frozen in time forever?

Why, indeed, is there no serious call for a second referendum? And why, Al Gore-like, do those most fervently opposed to Brexit — apart from Tony Blair, who ceased to be a relevant voice in British politics a decade ago — insist that it must nevertheless take place, on the dubious grounds that it is the will of a people who are impossibly divided?

On the surface, the main political parties have varying reasons for shying away from mounting a proper challenge to Brexit.

Tony Blair has been outspoken against Brexit — but he is no longer a relevant voice in British politics | Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit

In Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the party’s Remainers find themselves saddled with a patent Euroskeptic — horrible timing given he is the first to lead the party in 35 years. It is memories of that era, when the party split and suffered at the polls as a result, that largely explains the party’s reluctance to break from him.

This week most of the party’s MPs voted to block the EU Withdrawal Bill. Who can tell which way they will jump in future? The muddle and lack of clarity of Labour’s European policy would alone disqualify it from leading the charge against Brexit, even if Corbyn’s heart was in it, which it quite clearly isn’t.

The Tories, hopelessly riven for decades over Europe, are also unwilling to reopen the Pandora’s Box now that a clear pathway of sorts has emerged, even if a significant number oppose going down it.

None of these roadblocks would be insurmountable, however, were it not for a broader problem, one which dogged Remain throughout the referendum campaign: that it is always easier to argue for change than it is to defend a status quo.

And when that status quo is an institution as flawed as the EU, the task becomes almost impossible.

Remain-supporting politicians failed to make the case for the EU because, at heart, they didn’t believe in it strongly enough as an entity.

And, actually, who can blame them? Even the most blind of Europhiles would find it hard to claim it is not a flawed institution, which has, in recent years, lost much of its responsiveness to individual citizens.

From taxes on tampons to votes for prisoners, and, above all, to immigration, more — much more — should have been done in Brussels to ensure the many positives the EU brings to the U.K. were not overshadowed by irritants that were minor but tangible.

Another triumph of the Leave campaign was its success in turning the debate into a zero-sum game, where the smallest criticism resulted in a death sentence.

Unable to champion the EU ahead of the referendum, Team Remain based its pitch instead on what was best for the U.K.: The country would be worse off economically if it left.

The arguments today are virtually identical: Britain would suffer economically from a hard as opposed to a soft Brexit.

As an argument, it is persuasive, but not overwhelming. It lacks the vision thing.

In contrast, Camp Leave has always been able to draw on the clarity and passion that comes with wishful thinking, because they are dealing with a fantasy future, rather than the reality of the present. An additional £350 million a week for the National Health Service, anyone? The return of your blue passport? Trade deals stretching three times around the globe? Sure, why not.

Economic arguments against Brexit failed to resonate with the British public | Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Another triumph of the Leave campaign was its success in turning the debate into a zero-sum game, where the smallest criticism resulted in a death sentence. There was no room for nuance; no understanding that an institution could have problems but on balance be a force for good.

Fast forward 18 months and Remainers still lack the ammunition to make a coherent case for staying in the EU. And that’s because ultimately, they are unable to declare the Union an undiluted, upper-case “Good Thing.” Because it’s not; it’s broadly a diluted, lower-case “good thing.”

And until that changes, until Europe’s politicians get better at being better, their British comrades will continue to lack the intellectual confidence to make the case for reversing Brexit and keeping the U.K. where they believe it belongs: at the heart of Europe.

Rosa Prince is the author of “Theresa May: The Enigmatic Prime Minister.”

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wow

‘Why, indeed, is there no serious call for a second referendum?’

Because we’re democratic and it is not fair play.

Now go away you loon.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 8:53 AM CET

No person is an island

It seems that the EU has fast forwarded to swamp land like the US, long befor being a republic. The EU has long been an experiment in peace keeping through economic integration, followed by polotical alignment and integration. As such it has had a vision, and has pursued it. Unfortunately, in its haste to achieve its ideals, it has left much of its population behind. Not just in the UK, but in other member countries as well. Rather than reaching for further intergration and other lofty goals, the EU should set itself the aim to achieve more buy in from EU citizens. Difficult, but not impossible. One possible solution might be to abolish MEPs and instead second MPs from national parliaments. This would increase the connection between the countries’ legislature and the EU parliament and potentially reduce the tendency by national parties to claim EU successes as their own achievements, and disown their own failures as EU problems.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:05 AM CET

Pexit

When people saw the hate speech of the eurofanatics they changed their mind and there is no more 48% remainers but around 20%…

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:07 AM CET

Alex T

Unbelievable article. Prince doesn’t once mention Remain’s ‘Project Fear’, which voters saw through. Furthermore she mentions one poll, commissioned by the lefty-illiberal ‘Independent’, and fails to quote other polls which have shown quite the opposite result.

A typical example of Politico bias and disinformation. Worthy of a writer for Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:29 AM CET

Stefan M

Post brexit Albion- a chaotic place , economically deprived from the Rich and Prosperous Continent . An island where people live in growing misery ,but still proud being poorer . Pure example of delusion ,a medicine term closely associated with madness .

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:32 AM CET

Klaus W.

@Stefan M

“delusion ,a medicine term closely associated with madness .”

Yes you should certainly consult a doctor at once.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:57 AM CET

wow

Stefan beleives eveything journalists tell him.

Even whe they admit as above ‘‘Why, indeed, is there no serious call for a second referendum?’… what does this mean? It means NO PARTY is asking for a referendum and any outcry is media generated.

It comes from neither the people, nor either party in government.

It is literally made up by the media.

People like stefan believe them. It is quite weird, really. He doesn’t even know who this author is.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 10:09 AM CET

wow

If this article was factual news from a reputable source it would simply say ‘‘There is no serious call for a second referendum’
and that would be the truth

NOT : ‘Why, indeed, is there no serious call for a second referendum?’ and then trying to manipulate people with non-news…

Posted on 1/21/18 | 10:12 AM CET

Banana rEUpublic

With the far right starting their goose stepping through large parts of the European political system, remaining a member of this ghastly project is the last thing British citizens are interested in.

So we may not get an FTA in what we want? Fine, the EU will not get one in what they want – goods and agricultural products. May be we will all be poorer for a while as a result. But we will be free, and that counts for a lot. Better to be a free man in the cold, than a slave by a warm fire. But wait….it is not a warm fire, it is the whole European edifice burning to the ground!

Project fear continues as we speak with Macron saying unless we pay we cannot have access to the single market. It is a lie! All countries can access the single market for free just as the US and China do when they export to it (with no trade agreement in place). You pay for MEMBERSHIP of the single market, which we have already said we do NOT desire.

The questions is “how much do the EU wish to pay to maintain a trade surplus with the UK?”. Let us start at 20 billion euros a year.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 10:40 AM CET

Alex T

@Banana rEUpublic

Excellent post.
“… goods and agricultural products” : to this can also be added access to UK fishing grounds.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 11:02 AM CET

Drakes drum

Even the author has to admit that the eu is not a good thing. It needs to reform apparently.
It was offered the chance to show it could reform when Cameron went to the eu and asked for some modest reforms, he cane away empty handed and the British public saw that straight away.
We were told that there were no plans for an eu army, until a few weeks after the referendum when the eu army was announced, that wasn’t planned in a few weeks was it?
The eu needs to reform to survive, what does it do in the face of one of its largest members leaving? More Europe, More intergration, the result is less love for anything eu as it proves itself unable to change to the will of the people of europe and proves itself to be just there for the likes of its commissioners, elites and fellows like Soros who have noblove for the ordinary man or woman
There will be bloodshed on the streets of europe as this collapses, as it surely will when the financial burden of the euro become too much for people to bear

Posted on 1/21/18 | 11:22 AM CET

tony

It is rare that I have read such an arrogant paragraph as this.

“That they ignore both the illogicality of the result and the clear path towards reversing it’

It seems that The only correct opinion is the one the author holds. This arrogant and superior attitude is rampant in our political and intellectual elite throughout europe

If it wasn’t for project fear, when the public was manipulated with all sorts of biased opinions and wild statements, then the leave vote would have been far higher.

As for current opinion polls, I am not aware we are governed by those, as it would mean changing our govt every time they went through a dip in popularity.

Arrogance. Sheer arrogance to rubbish the largest democratic mandate ever given by the people in British history

Posted on 1/21/18 | 12:06 PM CET

freddie silver

Pexit
When people saw the hate speech of the eurofanatics they changed their mind and there is no more 48% remainers but around 20%…

you poles simply can’t do math … not even the most basic bits.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 12:07 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

@banana republic
“All countries can access the single market for free just as the US and China do when they export to it (with no trade agreement in place).”

LOL. The EU can grant a trading partner whatever kind of access they wish. It is entirely up to them.

It appears they do NOT wish to grant it to the UK. They can. Live with it and stop whining. You won the right to leave – now you’re …. left (behind) :-D.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 12:12 PM CET

Andrew

It’s easy to see this is a “Letter from London” and not a “Letter from Scotland”. In Scotland, there was a passionate pro-EU campaign which must in part be why the Remain vote was such a big majority and indeed even higher now.

In fact the most powerful speech I heard from a Scottish MP in support Remain didn’t even mention the economy once.

After the vote there’s been lots of passion for the EU all of sudden but all a little late.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 12:14 PM CET

Banana rEUpublic

@Priscilla
“LOL. The EU can grant a trading partner whatever kind of access they wish. It is entirely up to them.”

Comical. The EU saying “this 70billion euro surplus I have with the UK…I no longer want it” hehehe. Dream on.

The same applies to the UK of course, just the terms are better…” This 70 billion deficit I have with the EU, I no longer want it” is a much stronger negotiating position.

The UK has equal power, if not more, over what the access it grants to a trading partner with a surplus.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 12:33 PM CET

knokke

Rosa, please could you come to my town and explain why an 80 year old factory producing productively, profitably and providing good incomes was delocalised to Poland with over EUR 100 million of EU money?

Something like three quarters of the UK has GDP below the EU average, the hollowing out of the socio-economic fabric as a consequence of such policies is not unique to parts of the UK within the EU, do you have any message for these people, rather than run them down as stupid/uneducated/racist/ignorant etc.?

Second referendum: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Posted on 1/21/18 | 1:06 PM CET

Nathan Kennedy

No major UK party is calling for a return to the EU? What about the Lib-Dems? They haven’t shut up about it since the referendum, with the result being that they were ignored by the British public at the last election, getting a measly 10 seats in Parliament!

The people had a choice, they chose first to Leave then they elected a pro-Brexit government to see it through! Remainers had their chance, they failed twice, now it’s time for them (and the author of this piece) to accept the results.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 1:22 PM CET

xyc

@wow ” If this article was factual news from a reputable source it would simply say ‘‘There is no serious call for a second referendum’
and that would be the truth

NOT : ‘Why, indeed, is there no serious call for a second referendum?’ and then trying to manipulate people with non-news…”

A grown-up would actually understand that this isn’t a news piece but an opinion piece indeed classed under the “opinion” section of the site. Maybe one day you will understand the difference.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 1:31 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

@Banana Republic UK
“The UK has equal power, if not more, over what the access it grants to a trading partner with a surplus.”

Hoiney, the GO and DEAL with the rest of the world and leave the EU alone :-D. As simple as that.

I am looking forward to see Liar Fox succeed and will stand in awe when your trade deals will pouring in incessantly. I hardly can await to see treeza and her keystone cops succeed, really.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 2:05 PM CET

disillusioned

@no person is an island
“One possible solution might be to abolish MEPs and instead second MPs from national parliaments. This would increase the connection between the countries’ legislature and the EU parliament and potentially reduce the tendency by national parties to claim EU successes as their own achievements, and disown their own failures as EU problems.”
Guess how they were elected 1953-1979?
and in practice this wouldn’t help – the EU is controlled by the council, the council is run by the elected heads of government, who all command a parliamentary majority /excluding france)

Posted on 1/21/18 | 2:08 PM CET

disillusioned

@Drakes Drum
It was offered the chance to show it could reform when Cameron went to the eu and asked for some modest reforms, he cane away empty handed and the British public saw that straight away.
So much wrong, A, he didn’t ask for reforms, he asked for more special snowflake status for the UK, B, He did get what he wanted, that is more influence over the Eurozone, an exemption from the ‘ever closer union’ – He didn’t get anything on FoM because he didn’t and doesn’t care in the least about that. Again, More NON-EU migrants come to the UK than EU migrants, and have every year excluding 2004 IIRC, The tough on immigration line polls well, but isn’t something the Tories evidently care about.

“We were told that there were no plans for an eu army, until a few weeks after the referendum when the eu army was announced, that wasn’t planned in a few weeks was it?”
A, what is proposed is not an EU army, B, what is proposed is not yet clear, C, the primary block towards progression on this area has always been the UK Veto, So we know that it wouldn’t have happened if the UK had not voted to leave, D, IT appears as if the UK want’s to remain tied into EU defense, so apparently the UK is in even though it’s out.

“The eu needs to reform to survive, what does it do in the face of one of its largest members leaving? ”
The UK definition of ‘Reform’ is thoroughly unpopular in the rest of the EU-

“More Europe, More intergration, the result is less love for anything eu as it proves itself unable to change to the will of the people of europe”
Stop pretending the UK is remotely representative of the EU at large – Well whatever, 430 days or whatever until you are out.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 2:22 PM CET

AG

Yet another analysis of the U.K. leaving the EU..the whys, the how’s and the recriminations. It’s so boring it defies the amount of interest. It’s simple: the EU stance (Macron yesterday) is trade deal = accepting the 4 pillars e.g. Out is Out or ‘Hard brexit’ for those that don’t understand. The UK’s stance politically (as per the government’s mandate written in law) , is we want Canada+++. Neither meet the needs of the other. If that’s the case why participate in a transition deal. It would be less emotional if we just left now on WTO rules, let things calm down and then discuss trade. As we all know: the EU has a huge trade surplus with us..they either will want to trade with us or won’t. It’s reasonable to suppose they will. It’s also reasonable for us to deregulate, cut our taxes, offer low tariffs, put in place an immigration points system..and do pretty much what we like under WTO rules…..including looking for agri products etc elsewhere……and that is the thing the EU fear the most. I’m sort of sick and tired of the ping pong match. I wish no harm to anyone but it is simply a case of being pragmatic= trade or don’t.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 2:41 PM CET

TY

There is never real analysis of the real UK thinking. The UK views the EU as a trade and collaboration project, and if it was that there would never have been any debate the UK would vote to remain 75% to 25%….but the reality is that it is a social-political project of which trade and collaboration and table stakes, when truly understood as that the UK vote would reverse with 75% leave and 25% remain. All the debate and discussion seems to center on the 10% of leave headbangers, little englanders and equally the 10% of remain headbangers, republicans and extreme liberals. they really cancel each other out and have little to add to the debate. If europe wants the EU to be a social-political harmonisation project…you really really don’t want the UK….if Europe wants to be about a group of nation states colaberating and trading…The UK would be at the center in a heart beat…..

Always remember at the referendum the UK voters were offered to choices:

1. The EU is broken we should remain inside it and help fix it.
2. The EU is broken we should leave.

just some thoughts….a remain voter.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 3:05 PM CET

edel

@TY, the pro-EU camp never sold their message clearly. And if you put in top the recent Greek crisis and the present million refugees coming to the EU, and a semi-antagonistic Labour party all that, for sure, put it in a very uphill battle. In other words, the referendum came in the most difficult time for the EU and with the world selecting populist ideas left and right.

In that choice you gave, the EU choose collaborating and trading. That is why you have some countries on Schengen and others not, some with the Euro and others not, all countries with veto power and that is why if I stay in UK or Belgium for more than 3 months and without a source of income, those two countries can expel an Italian or Polish if they desire to do so, gosh, you could even have you blue passport again…
the remain camp failed to communicate all that.

Both Laboour and Tories found easy to blame everything on the EU (most in Europe practice that sport too). The truth is that the UK was a powerhouse that never was interested in taking any leadership role within the EU. UK could have allied with Italy and Netherlands for instance and offer an alternative plan for the EU than the German-French pole. The EU members don’t follow Germany for some magic power they have, but because no one else came with a credible better leadership plan. Like I said several times, UK only took a leadership role at sanctioning some countries, expanding the EU to the east, and war; and very successful at all three.

Let’s remember th

Posted on 1/21/18 | 6:24 PM CET

Milton38

Make no mistake, the EU was formed as a vehicle to curtail the growth and power of Germany.
By leaving the EU the UK has made a grave mistake since there is now a very important voice missing. Whatever way you look at it Austria is German speaking, and has as such much in common and a certain sympathy for their brethren, and at the same time Austria has a traditional and growing influence on all those states formed after WW1.
There is good reason why Macron suddenly shows so much sympathy and understanding for Ms May, he understands the again growing dominance on his eastern border.
The UK will find to its chagrin that it did itself a serious disservice since this time it has no colonies and no Common Wealth to fall back on.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 6:47 PM CET

Burgundian

And who asked EU citizens if they want Remainers?

They are revolting and since they are ready to sell their own country to Brussels for pecuniary gain, one can only imagine what they would do to somebody else’s country.

UK out of EU is better for both Europe and UK. It returns multi-polarity to European politics in place of EU monolith and it puts external pressure on eurocrats by showing the alternative to EU.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 7:00 PM CET

edel

Good theory @Milton38.

True, France is a bit uneasy, most the EU is, while a bit dysfunctional, there was a system in place that was bringing results. France can still offer an alternative, if he collaborates. The problem with France is that historically always has wanted things its own way and does not trust coalitions much unless no other alternative. With UK and Germany, France always played the mediator role (in the 70s and 80s it was the UK the one in that role).

France has 22 seats less than Germany at the European parliament so it only needs to coordinate an alternative with any country to compensate that difference, countries like Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Poland or Italy… or tens of combinations if mixing three or four countries. If their ideas sell, they will be taken by the rest of the members rather than Germany’s.

Germany has vast population and representatives but they are not invincible. Unlike the UK, if a country has a better alternative, offer it to the rest of the 27 members and stop complaining and bashing other members.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 7:14 PM CET

Petter B.

The article author asks why there never were the same kind of political protests to the Brexit vote as to the inauguration of George Bush (the younger), but seem to ignore the waste different political background between the two situations. The 2000 presidential campaign was extremely close and there were still some were some uncertainty as whether everything had been done properly at the time of the inauguration. The Brexit-vote was less close, and there were no serious charges of vote irregularity from either side. A protest like the one in the US senate would have been inappropriate given the fairly clear result and hammered down by Bercow accordingly.

As for lack of serious challenges to the vote, I believe the author must be reading very news sources from me, including the present one.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 7:24 PM CET

Peter2

Edel,
What can you do, if you have been blaming EU for everything in the past. It’s hard to change. So some of the most visible tories was very much for leaving and got the entire party ”Branded” as leavers. Labour again had the most un-visible pro-EU campaign and can’t even today say where they are standing. Ukip and Farage was sponsored as leavers. The only party which was pro-EU, was the liberals. A rather small party, with limited resources.
So 48-% pro – EU.. Not bad, if you think that UK wasn’t free and sovereign state..
NHS would be funded, immigration would stop and economy would boost and all saved EU payments would be ?
If you compare to pro-EU arguments, don’t actually remember what they said…

Posted on 1/21/18 | 7:25 PM CET

Labour Leave

What a nasty diatribe! The author disgusts me with their undisguised hatred for those who voted LEAVE. I voted for Scotland to leave the UK AND for the UK to leave the EU because I believe Governments MUST be accountable to THEIR countries electorate and free to agree/disagree separate policy on individual subjects as befits them, When the EU started along the road towards not needing a 100% acceptance of member states to introduce its own policies and laws, then it lost the support of many citizens.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:03 PM CET

wow

@xyc

I’m aware it’s an opinion piece. Does not excuse the lack of facts. Journalists that ask questions nobody in government or the public are asking and then answers that question for you, pretending to speak on behalf of nobody who has ever asked the question. It is a set up for media inspired outrage. The tacky tabloids do it all the time.

The FACT is : Nobody is calling for a second referendum except the media. This article admits this itself.

@Priscilla too DIM

WTO rules. What is wrong with you seriously? You are dim all day every day.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 10:45 PM CET

XKM

yawn, I am bored with Brexit!! I am sorry for the 51% that now want to remain but really i cant wait to see the back of the UK. And what was the author of the above article harping about? Accuses the EU for the fact that UK remain politicians have no spine to stand up to the loud well organised minority??? For the love of god mr/mrs Author!! when will you get it in your heads guys that Brexit is like a religion, it is not based on facts it it based on faith, so, until people wake up to their false gods there is nothing, that the EU can do. So, the ball is with the spineless UK politicians whose duty should be to explain to their constituents that the Brexitears pulled the wool over their eyes and paradise is not waiting just around the corner for them.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 11:04 PM CET

XKM

….in addition, the UK is going through An existential crisis trying to find its meaning, the 28% of the people that voted leave (as opposed to the 26% that voted remain) could not come to terms with what it means to be British in a modern world.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 11:41 PM CET

Tomonthebeach

This is the first time I realized that Labour is not unlike Trump’s base in the USA. They so want to gore their government for perceived injustices to them that they are willing to see their standard of living slip even further by opposing a remainer referendum.

Brexit is petulant-wise and British pound foolish, as most economists foresage. Labour has got it wrong when it really matters to their constituents.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 12:38 AM CET

Saintixe

Jan 22, 2018. Next year, MEP election.
Merkel and Schultz competing yet partners in government. Spain Rajoy and the Catalonia question. Macron whose own party has not yet entered Brussels but plans to. And all the others such as Poland, against Brussels rule while so much in favor of Brussels cash….

And Britain no more having to bother to film Mr Farage in one of his favourite actions ie trying to beat Mr Junker to a verbal pulp.

In a year time, all EUrope27 will be excited by the new election but Britain. Each candidate will give its version of how to cook British turkeys voting for Christmas. Do not delude yourself.
Each EU27 voter intends the best for his/her country. Which implies a lion share of whatever was beneficial to Britain when it was once a family member. Interesting times.

In about 14 months, whatever cliff edge it may be, the forks and knives will appear.
And some will regret how they used to sneer at a second referendum.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 1:32 AM CET

Thalia

Hilarious!!
They don’t do democracy where you come from then Rosa?

Posted on 1/22/18 | 4:15 AM CET

EUdoublestandards

You ARE kidding right? Every day the media in this country is awash with talking heads doing nothing but speaking for Remainers. Their voices far outweigh those speaking for the larger part of the population who actually won the vote.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 8:53 AM CET

tony

Edel said

“The pro eu camp never sold their message clearly’

Of all the baffling comments I have read on politico , and there have been many, this must be the most baffling of them all.

We were subjected to thousands of hours of expert analysis, opinion, comment, via all types of media over many months. Does it not occur to you that we rejected the pro EU message PRECISELY because it was explained so clearly?

Posted on 1/22/18 | 9:48 AM CET

stan

Blair, Lord Mandelson, Ms Miller the multi millionaire fund manager and Lord Adonis are all heavily pushing for ignoring the referendum result and leading the remain argument.
People are very much aware that these luminaries have only our best interests in mind and thus react accordingly.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 10:58 AM CET

Alex T

@stan
“People are very much aware that these luminaries have only our best interests in mind and thus react accordingly.”

i.e. ignore them completely.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 11:42 AM CET

katastrofa

18 months after the referendum, no Remain politician has presented a plan on how to fix the problems with the EU-UK relation which have cause the people to vote Leave. The only idea bandied about is how to make the people change their minds about the status quo ante and convince them things were all right after all. It just ain’t gonna work.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 4:12 PM CET

bluebell

The UK public were told in no uncertain terms what the potential economic risks were (and then some!)

Irrespective of the political preferences of UK citizens there were other factors which influenced the decision in favour of leave.

One which springs to mind is the way that the EU treated Greece and the way it subsequently decimated the lives of many ordinary Greek citizens in order that French and German banks did not lose out. This was seen as the EU caring more about the wishes of big business and the continued preferential treatment of the elites than ordinary citizens.

This in turn exposed the hypocrisy of the EU supposedly caring about the welfare of their citizens.

The perception was that France and Germany used their political muscle/influence to disregard the welfare of citizens of a much smaller country.

There was widespread disgust within the UK at the treatment metered out to Greeks. Who wants to be linked with bully boys?

Where were the voices of the other members of the EU? All MEPs should hang their heads in shame and the Commission too.

Posted on 1/22/18 | 4:48 PM CET

Ed

It is worth pointing out that the excellent weekly ‘The New European’ has excellent journalists and supporters working hard to impede a continuingly disastrous hard Brexit

Posted on 1/22/18 | 8:26 PM CET

Antoine

Compare UK and Germany:
– Germans vote and politicians have to find compromises to take into account the will of the people
– UK votes and winner takes all., usually with 25% of the electorate and you get a 5 years dictatorship (soon with Henry VIII powers, 6 wives included?)
– This time a referendum: less than 30% vote Brexit, over 25% vote to remain, the rest don’t bother to vote.
Well UK system first past the post wins and, while during the campaign brexiters were saying “don’t worry, we ‘ll still be in the single market”, the extremists in power draw a bunch of red lines and go for hard Brexit while wanting a very close relationship…provided UK does not have to follow the rules mostly defined by Maggie… Awesome!

Talk to me about a democracy…

Posted on 1/22/18 | 10:44 PM CET

edel

@tony, when I wrote “The pro EU camp never sold their message clearly” that you replied “We were subjected to thousands of hours of expert analysis” kind of testified on my favor.

Aspects like immigration and markets are very complex to address to be properly informed. If you reduce this complexity to a tag line like “350 million for NHS” or “migrants always make UK stronger” you will be bringing statements with tons of inaccuracies. The brexiteers, like populists do, had no problems bringing tag lines that overly simplify things while informed people always say things like “in most circumstances…”, “with the appropriated policies…”, “It is a complex issue…”, “most studies conclude…” etc that turns away vast majority of people, when does not raise further skepticism . That is why for getting into something big a referendum is great but parliament are theoretically better informed ones to decide if and how to get out something that is increasingly unpopular. Can you imagine May calls a referendum on getting rid of taxes? or getting rid of politicians? or diverting all government funding to NHS?

Posted on 1/23/18 | 12:35 AM CET

Bengeo

We voted ourselves a pay cut. Nothing we can do about it. Learn the lesson of referenda.